In a letter to the state government, the commission said that the district election officers-cum-collectors and deputy district election officers of Jabalpur, Dhindori, Katni, Damoh and Narsingpur have 'failed' to furnish the required information to the chief electoral officer despite clear directives.

"The commission desires that departmental proceedings leading to major penalty should be initiated by the state government for their failure to perform their assigned duties in time and for their irresponsibility in adhering to the directives of the commission communicated through the CEO," EC sources said.

The collectors-cum DEOs are:
Praveen Garg, Jabalpur
R R Gangarekar, Katni
S K Vaidya, Damoh
K R Mangodia, Dhindori
Rakesh Srivastava, Narsingpur

The deputy DEOs are:
S S Baghel, Dhindori
Niwas Sharma, Jabalpur
L K Dwivedi, Katni
B K Kulesh, Damoh
Hemant Jharia, Narsingpur.

The commission also sought an action taken report from the state government.

The commission recalled that it had ordered the CEO to review the status of the draft electoral rolls for every district in the state and furnish a report to it on the 'irregularities and discrepancies'.

The commission had taken up special revision of intensive nature in the state commencing in May 2002. After house-to-house enumeration, based on a preliminary list generated on the basis of the existing rolls, the draft rolls were published inviting claims and objections.

On receipt of a large number of representations from the political parties, the commission had decided to stay the process of revision on 'as is where is' basis and directed the CEO to review the status of the draft rolls, the sources said.

The report of CEO revealed that the DEOs and Deputy DEOs of these five districts had failed to furnish the required information, the sources said.

Assembly elections are due in Madhya Pradesh later this year.